The debate in the Miami Heat locker room was not about the winning streak, a 20-game run that has gotten far more discussion beyond the team setting.

No, the conversation within the locker room was about luck versus perseverance and which had more impact in what turned into Wednesday night's 98-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

"You play hard, you play the right way, luck goes in your favor most of the time," forward Shane Battier said.

"We didn't panic," forward LeBron James said. "We don't panic."

No matter how the Heat got here, they now find themselves tied for the third-longest winning streak in NBA history, this victory giving them the longest winning streak by a defending champion.